Providing information to a mobile device based on an event at a geographical location

ABSTRACT

A system, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions for receiving information about an event from at least one mobile device, the information comprising location information and event type information and identifying the event based on the information, the event being identified by associating the event type information with a specific event and associating the location information with a particular location associated with the specific event.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority from U.S.application Ser. No. 14/178,712, entitled PROVIDING INFORMATION TO AMOBILE DEVICE BASED ON AN EVENT AT A GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION, filed onFeb. 12, 2014, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 8,923,890, issued on Dec. 30,2014, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/793,909,entitled PROVIDING INFORMATION TO A MOBILE DEVICE BASED ON AN EVENT AT AGEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION, filed on Mar. 11, 2013, now issued U.S. Pat. No.8,655,386, issued on Feb. 18, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/537,565 entitled PROVIDING INFORMATION TO AMOBILE DEVICE BASED ON AN EVENT AT A GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION, filed onJun. 29, 2012, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 8,412,238, issued on Apr. 2,2013, which is a continuation of and claims priority from U.S.application Ser. No. 12/150,413 entitled PROVIDING INFORMATION TO AMOBILE DEVICE BASED ON AN EVENT AT A GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION, filed onApr. 28, 2008, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 8,219,110, issued on Jul. 10,2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is generally related to a communications network,and more particularly to providing information to a mobile device basedon an event at a geographical location in a communications network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When an event occurs in a specific location, government agencies thatrespond to or are responsible for the event may send out alerts tonearby entities with details about the event. In this way, others maytake preventative actions against the event. For example, an accidentmay have occurred at a busy interchange of highways. Currenttransportation authorities who monitor traffic flows may send out textalerts to electronic signals positioned at various highways to alertdrivers nearby. Drivers who saw the text alert may then takepreventative actions against the event, for example, by taking analternate route.

While current systems adequately alert events to people nearby, theyfail to provide alerts to those who are on the move, for example, thosewho are not in the nearby area but are approaching the event location.This failure is due to the limitation of current systems, which providealert information only to fixed locations, such as pre-installedelectronic signals or wired telephone lines. Therefore, what is neededis ability to provide information to those who are not fixed inposition, for example, mobile device users, no matter where they ortheir devices are geographically located.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure describes a method for providing information to amobile device based on an event at a geographical location. Anoccurrence of an event is detected. A determination is made as towhether the event is a specific event and if the event occurred at ornear a geographical location. If the event is the specific event, occursat or near the geographical location, and if the at least one mobiledevice is located at or near the geographical location, an alert of theevent is sent to at least one mobile device.

In one embodiment, the detection of the event comprises sensing by asensor an occurrence of an event above a predetermined threshold.Alternatively, the detection comprises capturing information about theevent by at least one mobile device, sending the information to at leastone service provider site, and forwarding the information to arepository.

In order to send an alert to the at least of mobile device, informationabout the event is first processed. An image is recognized from theinformation about the event, a type of the event is identified based onthe image, and a location of the event is identified based on a locationof the at least one mobile device.

When sending an alert of the event to at least one mobile device, in oneembodiment of the present disclosure, a lookup of at least one mobiledevice associated with at least one service provider site is performed.The alert is then sent to the at least one mobile device associated withthe at least one service provider site. In an alternative embodiment,the alert is sent to at least one service provider site. The alert isthen forwarded from the at least one service provider site to at leastone mobile device associated with the at least one service providersite.

In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a lookup of atleast one mobile device associated with at least one service providersite is performed. A location of the at least one mobile device isidentified. The alert is then sent to the at least one mobile devicewithin a predetermined distance of the event based on the location.

In still yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a location ofat least one service provider site is identified from a geographicalinformation system. The alert is sent to the at least one serviceprovider site within a predetermined distance of the event based on thelocation. The alert is then forwarded from the at least one serviceprovider site to at least one mobile device associated with the at leastone service provider site.

In addition to sending alert messages based on geographical locations,the alert may be sent to the at least one mobile device based on aperiod of time the at least one mobile device is registered with aservice provider site.

In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, a communicationsnetwork for providing information to a mobile device based on an eventat a geographical location is provided. The communications networkcomprises at least one mobile device utilized by at least one mobileuser, at least one service provider site associated with the at leastone mobile device; and an event alert system operable to detect anoccurrence of the event, process information related to the event, andsend an alert of the event to the at least one mobile device if theevent is a specific event, if the event occurs at or near a geographicallocation, and if the at least one mobile device is located at or nearthe geographical location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts one illustrative embodiment of a communications networkfor providing information to mobile device based on an event at ageographical location.

FIG. 2 depicts an alternative embodiment of a communications network forproviding information to mobile device based on an event at ageographical location.

FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a method for providing information tomobile device based on an event at a geographical location.

FIG. 4 depicts a flowchart of one exemplary method for sending alertmessages directly to mobile devices.

FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart of one exemplary method for indirectlysending alert messages to mobile devices.

FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart of an exemplary method for detecting theevent from a mobile device.

FIG. 7 depicts a flowchart of one exemplary method for processing theinformation in a repository or database.

FIG. 8 depicts a flowchart of an exemplary method for providinginformation to a mobile device which initiated event monitoring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, one illustrative embodiment of a communicationsnetwork for providing information to mobile device based on an event ata geographical location is depicted. In communications network 100,event monitor 102 is responsible for monitoring events 104 that occur invarious geographical locations. Examples of event monitors includegovernment or municipal agencies, such as police, fire departments,public safety answering points, and the like. Examples of events beingmonitored include a traffic accident, a construction detour, anexplosion, a fire, a police pursuit, and the like.

Event monitor 102 may recognize events 104 by using operators or sensors106 that are installed at the various geographical locations fordetecting the occurrence of events 104. Examples of events that sensors106 may detect include earthquakes, rain storms, electricity outage, andthe like. In addition to sensors 106 that are installed at variousgeographical locations, sensors 106 may be installed within the eventmonitor 102 for monitoring events that occur above a predeterminedthreshold. For example, sensors 106 may be installed at the eventmonitor 102 to detect vibrations above a predetermined threshold toalert an earthquake.

When the event monitor 102 detects or senses an event 104, the eventmonitor 102 notifies an event alert system 108. The event alert system108 stores the event 104 in a repository or database 110 and determinesif the event is a specific event and if the event occurs at or near ageographical location. The event alert system 108 determines whether theevent is a specific event based on a type and/or location of the event.

If the event is a specific event and if the event occurs at or near ageographical location, the event alert system 108 provides informationrelated to the event to mobile devices 114 at or near the geographicallocation. In one illustrative embodiment, the event alert system 108alerts the mobile device 114 by directly sending alert messages tomobile device 114. In order to send alert messages directly to mobiledevice 114, the repository or database 110 may comprise information ofmobile device 114 at or near the geographical location. For example,repository or database 110 may comprise a table of mobile identificationnumbers (MINs) associated with service provider sites 116 at or near thegeographical location. A mobile identification number (MIN) uniquelyidentifies a mobile device in a service provider network.

While alerts may be sent to mobile device 114 at or near thegeographical location, the event alert system 108 may sent alerts tomobile devices 114 that are within a certain distance of the event 104.To determine the location of mobile device within a geographical area,the event alert system 108 may consult data stored within thegeographical information system (GIS) or global positioning system (GPS)118. For example, alerts may be sent to mobile device that are within acertain number of feet, miles, or yards of the event. In this way, onlymobile devices 114 that are located within a certain distance of ageographical area affected by the event 104 may be alerted. Nodisruptions will be caused to the other devices.

In an alternative embodiment, the event alert system 108 may alert themobile device 114 by sending alert messages to service provider sites116 or other systems at the geographical location or within a certaindistance of the event 104. Since each service provider site 116 keepstrack of its mobile device 114 with their mobile identification numbers(MINs), no mobile device information will be stored in the repository ordatabase 110. However, to determine service provider sites located at ageographical location or within a certain distance of the event, theevent alert system 108 may consult data stored within the geographicalinformation system (GIS) or global positioning system (GPS) 118. Inresponse to receiving alert messages from the event alert system 108,service provider sites 116 forward the alert messages to its mobiledevices 114, which in turn notify their mobile users 112.

The event alert system 108 may instruct service provider sites 116 tosend a specific message to a mobile device 114 based on its location andheading relative to the event. For example, service provider sites 116may send alert message A to mobile device 114 that are moving towardsthe event 104. Service provider sites 116 may also send alert message Bor no alert message at all to mobile device 114 that are moving awayfrom the event 104. In order to detect mobile device's location andheading relative to the event, the event alert system 108 may consultdata stored within GIS/GPS system 118. In addition, service providersites 116 may detect the received signal strength indication (RSSI) ofits mobile devices 114 and determine their locations and headingsrelative to the event. Alternative to a specific message, the eventalert system 108 may also instruct service provider sites 116 to send ageneric alert message to all associated mobile device 114 withinformation related to the event 104.

Alternative to detecting events by event monitor 102, events may bedetected by the event alert system 108 from a reporting of the eventoriginated from a person involved in the event or bystanders. FIG. 2provides an alternative embodiment of a communications network forproviding information to mobile device based on an event at ageographical location. In communications network 200, a person involvedmay capture information of the event 204 with mobile device 214. Forexample, mobile user 212 may take a picture of a scene of the accidentwith mobile device 214. Other examples of information captured by themobile user 212 include videos, graphics, sounds, and the like.

Mobile user 212 may then report the event by sending the eventinformation from mobile device 214 to the event alert system 208 viaservice provider sites 216. In response to receiving the eventinformation, the event alert system 208 stores the event information inrepository or database 210. Based on the event information, the eventalert system 208 may utilize the GIS/GPS system 218 and imagerecognition software 220 to identify the location and/or the type of theevent 204. The location, the type or a combination of the location andtype of the event identifies the event as a specific event. The eventalert system 208 then sends alert messages directly to mobile devices214 at the geographical location or within a certain distance of theevent 204. Alternatively, the event alert system 208 may send alertmessages to service provider sites 216 at or near the geographicallocation or within a certain distance of the event 204. In response toreceiving alert messages from the event alert system 108, serviceprovider sites 216 may forward the alert messages to associated mobiledevices 214, which in turn notify their mobile users 212.

FIG. 3 provides a flowchart of a method for providing information tomobile device based on an event at a geographical location. Process 300begins at step 302 with detecting occurrence of an event. In oneembodiment, the event may be detected using sensors. Alternatively, aperson involved or bystanders may report an event by capturing eventinformation with mobile devices. Next, the process continues to step 304to determine if the event is a specific event, if the event occurs at ornear a geographical location. The process then completes at step 306 tosend alert messages either directly or indirectly to mobile devices ifthe event is a specific event, if the event occurs at or near ageographical location, and if the mobile device is at or near thegeographical location.

FIG. 4 provides a flowchart of one exemplary method for sending alertmessages directly to mobile devices. The process 306 begins at step 402with performing a lookup of mobile devices associated with serviceprovider sites based on their mobile identification numbers (MINs). Inthis example, the lookup may be performed at the service provider sites.Next, the process continues step 404 to determine whether alert messagesshould be sent to all mobile device at a geographical location or withina certain distance of the event.

If alert messages are to be sent to mobile devices at a geographicallocation, the process continues to step 406 to send alert messages toMINs associated with service provider sites at the geographicallocation. However, if alert messages are to be sent to mobile deviceswithin a certain distance of the event, the process continues to step408 to consult locations of mobile devices from data stored within aGIS/GPS server and completes at step 410 to send alert messages to MINswithin a certain distance of the event.

FIG. 5 provides a flowchart of one exemplary method for indirectlysending alert messages to mobile devices. Process 306 begins with step502 with determining whether alert messages should be sent to all mobiledevices at a geographical location or within a certain distance of theevent. If alert messages are to be sent to all mobile devices at ageographical location, the process continues to step 504 to send alertmessages to service provider sites that are located at the geographicallocation. Subsequently, the process continues to step 506 to forwardalert messages to MINs associated with the service provider sites.

However, if alert messages are to be sent to all mobile devices within acertain distance of the event, the process continues to step 508 toconsult locations of service provider sites from data stored within aGIS/GPS server and to step 510 to forward alert messages to serviceprovider sites that are within a certain distance of the event. Theprocess 306 then completes at step 506 to forward alert messages to MINsassociated with the service provider sites located within a certaindistance of the event.

As discussed above, instead of using sensors to detect occurrence ofevents, a person involved or bystanders may report event informationusing their mobile devices. FIG. 6 provides a flowchart of an exemplarymethod for detecting the event from a mobile device. The process 302begins at step 602 with a mobile user capturing information of the eventwith a mobile device. Next, the process 302 continues to step 604 tosend the captured event information from a mobile device to a serviceprovider site. The process 302 then completes at step 606 to forward thecaptured event information from the service provider site to the eventalert system. Once the captured event information is received, the eventalert system may store and process the information in a repository ordatabase.

FIG. 7 provides a flowchart of one exemplary method for processing theinformation related to the event in a repository or database. Theprocess 304 begins at step 702 with recognizing an image from thecaptured event information. To accomplish this step, the captured eventinformation may be compared to images stored within an image recognitionsoftware system. For example, the scene of an accident may be recognizedby the image recognition software by comparing it to images ofintersections stored within the image recognition software system.

Next, the process 304 continues to step 704 to identify a type of theevent based on the recognized image. To accomplish this step, theinformation from the captured image may be compared to informationstored within the repository or database. For example, the accidentscene image recognized by the software may be compared to informationstored within the repository or database and an accident event isidentified. After the type of event is identified, the process 304continues to step 706 to identify location of the event based on thelocation of the mobile device reporting the event or a recognized image.To accomplish this step, the event alert system may consult data storedwithin a GIS/GPS server. Based on the type, the location, or acombination of the type and location of the event, alert messages may besent to mobile devices that are at or near the geographical location.

In addition to alerting events to mobile devices based on geographicallocation, alert messages may be sent based on time periods spent bymobile users in a particular geographical location. For example, alertmessages may be sent only to mobile devices that have passed through orare registered with a service provider site within a certain period oftime. Examples of periods of time include months, weeks, days, hours,minutes, and the like. In this way, alerts may be sent to mobile devicesthat are within the reach of a service provider site for a specificperiod of time. For example, if an accident occurred in a particulargeographical location half an hour ago, alert messages may be sent tomobile device that have passed through or are registered with a serviceprovider site located within a certain distance of the event for thepast half hour, such that mobile users in the vicinity of the accidentmay take preventative action to avoid the scene. In order to identifymobile devices based on a period of time, it is preferable to storemobile identification numbers (MINs) associated with each serviceprovider site for a period of time in the service provider site, arepository, or a database.

It is noted that the alert messages being sent to the mobile devices mayinclude information related to the event in a form of text, voice,sound, graphics, email, short messages, and the like. In the event thata short message alert is sent, the message may be sent via a shortmessage servicing center. In addition to text alerts, alert messages mayinclude additional information about the event. For example, the alertmessage may include a link to obtain further information related to theevent, a link to a map surrounding the location of the event, asuggestion of alternate route, etc. Furthermore, additional informationabout the event may include instructions from government agenciesindicating precautions to take against the event. For example, theHomeland Security Department may send out information about theprocedures for dealing with nuclear, biological, and chemical events.

Moreover, different types of alert messages may be sent based on thetype of events that occurred. For example, short message type 1 (SMS1)may be sent for a general event, while short message type 2 (SMS2) maybe sent for a more serious event. In addition, one or more types ofmessages may be sent simultaneously to a mobile device based on the typeof events. For example, in an event of abduction, a text containing alicense number and description of the abductor may be sentsimultaneously with a picture of the abductee and a map of the abductionlocation.

In addition to initiating event monitoring by an event monitor or aperson involved in the event, mobile users may register for monitoringof events and delivery of alert messages when the events occur. FIG. 8provides a flowchart of an exemplary method for providing information tomobile device who initiated event monitoring. Process 800 begins at step802 with a mobile user registering a location and/or type of event to bemonitored. For example, a mobile user may register to monitor for atraffic accident at a particular intersection.

Next, process 800 continues to step 804 to monitor for the specificevent. Process 800 continues to step 806 to determine if the event is aspecific event based on the type and/or location of the event detected.This step may be accomplished by utilizing the GIS/GPS system and imagerecognition software. If the event is the specific event based on thelocation and/or type of the event detected, process 800 continues tostep 808 to send messages alerting the event either directly orindirectly to the mobile device of the registered user. Otherwise, theprocess terminates thereafter.

In summary, aspects of the present disclosure provide a method andsystem for providing information to mobile device based on an event at ageographical location. Events may be detected from sensors or reportingof the event by a person. Also, a mobile user may register and initiateevent monitoring. Alerting of the events may be performed directly orindirectly. Alert messages may be sent directly to mobile devices thatare associated with service provider sites in various geographicallocations. Alert messages may also be sent first to the service providersites or other systems, which then forward the messages to associatedmobile devices. Event information may be stored in a repository ordatabase or within the service provider sites. Aspects of presentdisclosure may utilize image recognition software and GIS/GPS servers toidentify a location and a type of the event, such that a determinationcan be made as to whether the event is a specific event. In this way,alert messages may be sent to specific mobile devices at or near thegeographical location of the event.

Systems and methods have been shown and/or described in the aboveembodiments for alerting events to mobile users based on geographicallocations. Although the above descriptions set forth preferredembodiments, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit theinvention by such disclosure, but rather, it is intended to cover allmodifications and alternate implementations falling within the spiritand scope of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments are intended tocover capabilities and concepts whether they be via a loosely coupledset of components or they be converged into one or more integratedcomponents, devices, circuits, and/or software programs.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: capturing information aboutan event, that has occurred above a predetermined threshold, by at leastone mobile device; performing a lookup of at least one other mobiledevice associated with at least one service provider site; identifying alocation of the at least one other mobile device; and sending an alertof the event to the at least one other mobile device if the at least oneother mobile device is within a predetermined distance of the eventbased on the location associated with a specific event; wherein thesending of the alert comprises sending at least one of: a first alert toa first mobile device of the at least one other mobile device movingtowards the event; and a second alert to a second mobile device of theat least one other mobile device moving away from the event.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, comprising at least one of: identifying the event,via an event alert server, based on the information, the informationcomprising location information and event type information; and sendingthe information from the at least one mobile device to the event alertserver.
 3. The method of claim 1, comprising receiving an alert of theevent at the least one other mobile device if at least one of afollowing occurs: the event is the specific event; the event occurs ator near a geographical location; and the at least one other mobiledevice is located at or near the geographical location.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of: determining if the event is a specificevent; and if the event occurred at or near a geographical location,comprises at least one of: processing information related to the event,wherein the processing comprises: recognizing an image from theinformation about the event; identifying the type of the event based onthe image; and identifying the location of the event based on thelocation of the at least one mobile device.
 5. The method of claim 1,comprising sending an alert of the event to the at least one othermobile device comprises at least one of: performing a lookup of the atleast one other mobile device associated with at least one serviceprovider site; and sending the alert to the at least one other mobiledevice associated with at least one service provider site.
 6. The methodof claim 2, wherein identifying the event comprises associating theevent type information with the specific event and associating thelocation information with a location associated with the specific event.7. The method of claim 1, comprising sending an alert of the event tothe at least one other mobile device comprises at least one of: sendingthe alert to at least one service provider site; and forwarding thealert from the at least one service provider site to the at least oneother mobile device associated with the at least one service providersite.
 8. The method of claim 1, comprising sending an alert of the eventto the at least one other mobile device comprises at least one of:identifying a location of at least one service provider site from ageographical information system; sending the alert to the at least oneservice provider site within a predetermined distance of the event basedon the location; and forwarding the alert from the at least one serviceprovider site to the at least one other mobile device associated withthe at least one service provider site.
 9. The method of claim 1,wherein at least one of the first mobile device and the second mobiledevice is the at least one mobile device.
 10. The method of claim 1,comprising sending an alert of the event to the at least one othermobile device comprises sending the alert to the at least one othermobile device based on a period of time the at least one other mobiledevice is registered with a service provider site.
 11. A non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium comprising instructions that whenexecuted by a processor cause the processor to perform: capturinginformation about an event, that has occurred above a predeterminedthreshold, by at least one mobile device; performing a lookup of atleast one other mobile device associated with at least one serviceprovider site; identifying a location of the at least one other mobiledevice; and sending an alert of the event to the at least one othermobile device if the at least one other mobile device is within apredetermined distance of the event based on the location associatedwith a specific event; wherein the sending of the alert comprisessending at least one of: a first alert to a first mobile device of theat least one other mobile device moving towards the event; and a secondalert to a second mobile device of the at least one other mobile devicemoving away from the event.
 12. A system, comprising: an event alertsystem comprising a network, processor and memory, wherein the processoris configured to: receive information about an event, that has occurredabove a predetermined threshold, from at least one mobile device;perform a lookup of at least one other mobile device associated with atleast one service provider site; receive a location of the at least oneother mobile device; and send an alert of the event to the at least oneother mobile device if the at least one other mobile device is within apredetermined distance of the event based on a location associated witha specific event; wherein the alert sent comprises at least one of: afirst alert sent to a first mobile device of the at least one othermobile device moving towards the event; and a second alert sent to asecond mobile device of the at least one other mobile device moving awayfrom the event.
 13. The system of claim 12, further comprising at leastone event monitor operable to perform at least one of a following: sensean occurrence of the event; determine if the event is above thepredetermined threshold; and notify the event alert system of theoccurrence of the event if the event is above the predeterminedthreshold.
 14. The system of claim 12, wherein the event is identifiedbased on the information, the information comprising locationinformation and event type information, by an association of the eventtype information with the specific event stored in the repository and anassociation of the location information with a location associated withthe specific event.
 15. The system of claim 12, wherein the event alertsystem is further operable to perform at least one of a following: sendthe alert to at least one service provider site; and cause the at leastone service provider site to forward the alert from the at least oneservice provider site to the at least one other mobile device associatedwith the at least one service provider site.
 16. The system of claim 12,wherein information about the event is received if at least one of thefollowing occurs: the event is the specific event; the event occurs ator near a geographical location; and the at least one mobile device islocated at or near the geographical location.
 17. The system of claim12, further comprising at least one geographical information system,wherein the at least one geographical information system sends thelocation of the at least one other mobile device.
 18. The system ofclaim 12, further comprising at least one geographical informationsystem, wherein the event alert system is further operable to perform atleast one of a following: identify a location of at least one serviceprovider site from the at least one geographical information system;send the alert to the at least one service provider site within apredetermined distance of the event based on the location; and forwardthe alert from the at least one service provider site to at least oneof: the at least one mobile device associated with the at least oneservice provider site and the at least one other mobile device.
 19. Thesystem of claim 12, further comprising: at least one image recognitionsystem; and at least one geographical information system; wherein the atleast one image recognition system is operable to recognize an imagefrom the information about the event; wherein the event alert system isoperable to identify at least one of: a type of the event based on theimage; and a location of the event based on a location of the at leastone mobile device from the at least one geographical information system.20. The system of claim 12, wherein the event alert system is furtheroperable to perform at least one of a following: register at least onemobile user associated with the at least one mobile device; monitor aspecific event; determine if the monitored event is the specific eventbased on a type of the event and a location of the event; and send analert of the event, if the event is the specific event, to at least oneof: the at least one mobile device and the at least one other mobiledevice.